Answering Questions About Flu Vaccine in a Nasal Spray Flu vaccine in a nasal spray contains a live, but weakened influenza virus. It is sprayed into your nose.
1. If you receive flu vaccine in a nasal spray, can you get the flu?
Flu vaccine in a nasal spray is made from weakened flu virus and cannot give you the flu.
2. If you receive flu vaccine in a nasal spray, can you pass the flu on to others?
The possibility of spreading flu virus to others is rare. And even if some virus is spread, it is so weakened that people would be at extremely low risk for developing flu. Flu vaccine in a nasal spray is a vaccine like measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) that is rarely passed on to others. You can take flu vaccine in a nasal spray even if you are around others as listed in Question 3 below who cannot take the flu vaccine in a nasal spray.
3. Who should not get flu vaccine in a nasal spray?
The following people should not get flu vaccine in a nasal spray: · People younger than 2 years of age or older than 49 years of age; · Pregnant women; · People with a medical condition that places them at higher risk for complications from influenza, including those with o chronic heart or lung disease, such as asthma or reactive airways disease; o people with medical conditions such as diabetes or kidney failure; or o people with illnesses that weaken the immune system, or who take medications that can weaken the immune system; · Children younger than 5 years old with a history of recurrent wheezing; · Children or adolescents receiving aspirin therapy; · People who have had Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), a rare disorder of the nervous system, within 6 weeks of getting a flu vaccine, · People who have a severe allergy to chicken eggs or who are allergic to any of the nasal spray vaccine components. · Close contacts of a person who needs care in a protected environment (for example, someone who has recently had a bone marrow transplant)
4. What are the side effects of flu vaccine?
Flu Vaccine in a Nasal Spray
Flu Vaccine in a Shot (Injectable)
Some children and adolescents 2-17 years of age have reported mild reactions, including: · fever · headache and muscle aches · wheezing · runny nose, nasal congestion or cough · abdominal pain or occasional vomiting or diarrhea Some adults 18-49 years of age have reported: · runny nose or nasal congestion · sore throat · cough, chills, tiredness/weakness · headache Severe problems: • Life-threatening allergic reactions from vaccines are very rare. If they do occur, it is usually within a few minutes to a few hours after the vaccination.
Mild problems such as: • soreness, redness, or swelling where the shot was given • fever • aches • hoarseness; sore, red or itchy eyes; cough If these problems occur, they usually begin soon after the shot and last 1-2 days. Severe problems: • Life-threatening allergic reactions from vaccines are very rare. If they do occur, it is usually within a few minutes to a few hours after the vaccination.
Flu vaccine in a nasal spray contains a live, but weakened influenza virus. It is sprayed into your nose.
1. If you receive flu vaccine in a nasal spray, can you get the flu?
Flu vaccine in a nasal spray is made from weakened flu virus and cannot give you the flu.2. If you receive flu vaccine in a nasal spray, can you pass the flu on to others?
The possibility of spreading flu virus to others is rare. And even if some virus is spread, it is so weakened that people would be at extremely low risk for developing flu. Flu vaccine in a nasal spray is a vaccine like measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) that is rarely passed on to others. You can take flu vaccine in a nasal spray even if you are around others as listed in Question 3 below who cannot take the flu vaccine in a nasal spray.3. Who should not get flu vaccine in a nasal spray?
The following people should not get flu vaccine in a nasal spray:· People younger than 2 years of age or older than 49 years of age;
· Pregnant women;
· People with a medical condition that places them at higher risk for complications from influenza, including those with
o chronic heart or lung disease, such as asthma or reactive airways disease;
o people with medical conditions such as diabetes or kidney failure; or
o people with illnesses that weaken the immune system, or who take medications that can weaken the immune system;
· Children younger than 5 years old with a history of recurrent wheezing;
· Children or adolescents receiving aspirin therapy;
· People who have had Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), a rare disorder of the nervous system, within 6 weeks of getting a flu vaccine,
· People who have a severe allergy to chicken eggs or who are allergic to any of the nasal spray vaccine components.
· Close contacts of a person who needs care in a protected environment (for example, someone who has recently had a bone marrow transplant)
4. What are the side effects of flu vaccine?
· fever
· headache and muscle aches
· wheezing
· runny nose, nasal congestion or cough
· abdominal pain or occasional vomiting or diarrhea
Some adults 18-49 years of age have reported:
· runny nose or nasal congestion
· sore throat
· cough, chills, tiredness/weakness
· headache
Severe problems: • Life-threatening allergic reactions from vaccines are very rare. If they do occur, it is usually within a few minutes to a few hours after the vaccination.
• soreness, redness, or swelling where the shot was given
• fever
• aches
• hoarseness; sore, red or itchy eyes; cough
If these problems occur, they usually begin soon after the shot and last 1-2 days.
Severe problems: • Life-threatening allergic reactions from vaccines are very rare. If they do occur, it is usually within a few minutes to a few hours after the vaccination.